These Hamilton voters say the trade war is top of mind but they want candidates thinking beyond Trump

Voters in Hamilton say that while the economic impacts of U.S. tariffs are top of mind this election, they want to hear more from candidates about other pressing issues.

"We shouldn't make this [election] about [U.S. President] Donald Trump," said Clayton Gomes, who lives in Hamilton's Waterdown area. "We can't let some fool from down south tell us how we want to be."

Instead of focusing on which party leader will best deal with Trump, the 44-year-old said he thinks voters should vote for who's right for them and their family, and "What is Canada's identity going forward?"

The U.S. has placed several tariffs on goods from Canada including passenger vehicles, steel, aluminum, energy and potash. In response, Canada placed reciprocal tariffs American goods. The ongoing trade war has been a focus of the federal election and strained Canada-U.S. relations.

Four Hamilton-area voters told CBC Hamilton they worry about the trade war affecting their livelihoods. But they said they also want candidates talking about more than Trump, and to share clear plans around topics including health care, the environment and housing. 

Here's some of what they said. 

Gomes, who works as a sales representative for a medical device company, said he doesn't know if the country will be able to pay for politicians' promises and would like to see costed platforms. "What are we giving up to get something?"

He'd also like more details about how the parties plan to support industry in Canada. Gomes used to sell industrial equipment and said he saw firsthand how the loss of factory jobs hurt communities in southwestern Ontario. That decline took years, he said, and so could an economic recovery, especially if a trade war causes more hardship.

Some of the products his company sells come from the U.S., he said, so he also worries about cost increases affecting his work, and downstream effects if medical devices become more expensive.

Generally, Gomes said, he feels aligned with Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party. He said he thinks he could benefit from that party's proposed tax break for investors reinvesting in Canada. 

Gomes said he doesn't like Carney's longtime support for carbon pricing and disapproved of how the Liberal leader responded when reporters asked him about his assets and possible conflicts of interest last month.

"I don't want my prime minister to talk to people like that." 

For Christy Scalia, 41, housing and the economy are key issues this election. She lives in Hamilton's Ancaster area and works as a Realtor. Scalia also co-owns a building company with her husband, which she said is affected by tariffs increasing material costs.

"If you have houses being built, you have workers working," Scalia said, and right now, her contractors are telling her it's hard to find jobs.